Chase Me, Ara Portia (Published Under IMMAC PPH)

34:

The night and day were ridiculously boring. I am here eating lunch with Mr. and Mrs. Tamuyaki and they seem to enjoy it while I am not. Panay sila tawanan. Panay sila harutan habang ako ay napapag-iwanan. Nilingon ko naman sandali si Leigh. She's silently eating her lunch. I can't stop smiling inside because of the band aid on her forehead. It looks like I got too far. Nagkapasa yata.

"You good, Mr. Valenzuela?" Tanong ni Mrs. Tamuyaki. "Mukhang distracted ka. Namimiss mo ba ang girlfriend mo?"

I smiled and did not even hesitate on replying.

"I do miss her."

"Aww, that's fine. Bumawi ka na lang pagkauwi mo. Besides, you told us she's away. I'm sure she'll be fine. Anyway, I don't know who the lucky woman is. Do you have any pictures of her?"

Hindi ako nakapagsalita agad dahil pinoproseso ko pa ang isasagot ko. Wala naman akong picture ni Ara. Wala akong natatandaan na picture naming dalawa. I was about to shake my head when I remembered my sister. Marami nga palang isinend sa akin ang walang hiyang iyon na picture namin ni Ara bago kami magclub noon. Sandali lang akong tumipa sa cellphone ko at ipinakita iyon sa kanila.

"Oh, I know her!" Mr. Tamuyaki excitedly said.

Hindi ko iyon inaasahan kaya naman medyo tagilid ang ngiti ko. How is it possible that Mr. Tamuyaki knows Ara? Pati nga si Mrs. Tamuyaki ay napapakunot din ang noo. She's not following what her husband is saying.

"Ms. Portia, honey. She's the one who gave you the flower necklace on a charity event we hosted maybe a month ago. She's one of the sponsors. This is maybe where you met, huh? I saw you two later that night talking outside the building. I can still remember that."

Sandaling prinoseso namin ni Mrs. Tamuyaki ang sinabi ni Mr. Tamuyaki. It took her half a minute to know what her husband is talking about, but I cannot understand at all.

"Oh, yes! Funny I am wearing the necklace now." Ipinakita pa niya sa akin ang nakasuot sa kaniyang leeg. "So, she is the lucky woman."

Ngumiti na lang ako at tumango kahit hindi ko nasundan nang ganoon kalinaw ang sinasabi nilang dalawa. Ibinalik na rin ni Mr. Tamuyaki ang cellphone ko sa akin.

"She's a very good woman. She's pretty. I now know why you called her fierce."

Tumawa si Mr. Tamuyaki. Muli akong ngumiti. Hindi ko pa rin sila naiintindihan pati na ang sinasabi nilang charity even a month ago. Baka sa sobrang daming charity events ko nang napuntahan kaya naman nalilito na ako. Nagpatuloy na lang ang pagkain. Natapos kaming puro kuwento ang dalawa. After that, I checked on Manong Lucio at mukha namang nag-eenjoy din siya sa pagtatambay namin dito.

Para naman mawala kaagad ang busog ko ay nagtungo ako sa tabing dagat. Doon ako naglakad-lakad habang sinusubukang ma-enjoy ang paligid. The sand is white. Hindi masakit sa paa kapag tinatapakan. The water is clean and blue. Kitang-kita ang mga nasa ilalim noon. It is obvious that they are taking care of this island well. Maliban sa isang maliit na building at ilang landscapes ay wala na silang pinakialaman sa isla. I tried hard not to get bored as fuck but I failed. Kahit na nga sumunod si Manong Lucio at nagkuwento ng kung anu-ano ay wala pa rin. Yes, he helped me on wasting my time, but it is really not enough. May kulang talaga. Sobrang kulang.